Life

Mission week highlights power of prayer

Rev Colin Dickson, pictured left, who serves with his wife Marjorie in Jordan, with Bangor Worldwide chairman Tom Clarke ahead of this year's missionary convention
Rev Colin Dickson, pictured left, who serves with his wife Marjorie in Jordan, with Bangor Worldwide chairman Tom Clarke ahead of this year's missionary convention Rev Colin Dickson, pictured left, who serves with his wife Marjorie in Jordan, with Bangor Worldwide chairman Tom Clarke ahead of this year's missionary convention

THE Bangor Worldwide Missionary Convention meets for the 82nd time later this summer, with events in Belfast, Dollingstown, Lurgan and Magherafelt as well as venues in Bangor itself.

'Pray the Lord of the Harvest' is the theme for the week. The main speaker will be Alistair Begg, the senior pastor at Parkside Church in Cleveland, Ohio.

The Scot has ministered in the United States for 30 years and is the voice behind Truth For Life, a Christian teaching and preaching ministry that broadcasts on radio.

Convention chairman Tom Clarke said that Dr Begg would be leading the week's Bible studies during the week, which runs from August 24 to September 1.

"As a well known author and speaker, we hope many people will join us to hear what he has to say to us through God's Word," said Mr Clarke.

The majority of events will be held at Bangor's Hamilton Road Presbyterian Church. The neighbouring Baptist Church will also host events.

Mr Clarke said that 'Pray the Lord of the Harvest' "reflects upon the importance of prayer to the convention from the very outset in 1937 and it has always been an integral part of each year's programme".

"The establishment of a weekly prayer meeting which runs throughout the year and is now reaching its 80th birthday to support the work is another clear indication of the importance which has always been attached to the role of prayer in the convention," he said.

"Key speakers for this summer include acid-attack survivor Pastor Umar Mulinde, who will be making the journey from Uganda to Bangor, along with a host of other international speakers from Spain, Dubai, Malaysia, Israel, India and Haiti."

Petr Jašek from Release International, which has been monitoring and reporting Christian persecution around the world for 50 years, will be the main speaker on the opening night on Saturday August 25, which will take place in the Presbyterian Church's Assembly Buildings in Belfast.

The story of Amy Carmichael, as written by Etta Halliday, will also be performed and music will be led by New Irish Arts.

"A few other mission agencies will be using the Convention to celebrate anniversaries, such as SIM - Serving in Mission - and SASRA, Soldiers' and Airmen's Scripture Readers Association," said Mr Clarke, who said the Bangor Worldwide committee was grateful to Ards and North Down Council for its support.

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